You know that ferry boat are really big ships. The sight of one spinning on it access and then backing into the dock as easy as I would swing into a parking lot is a awesome sight. And at last my ship has come. We drive up and start pouring out of a cars, truck and assorted tramper vans ( like Homey ). And head up for the passenger deck. I get half way up the stairs and notice that once the ship gets under way "Passengers are not allowed back to the vehicles once the ship is at sea". Now I've been on ferries like this before in British Columbia and I remember going back and forth during the crossing. So I figure I better run back and get what I need as I won't get a chance later. SO I fix my self a rather large cocktail and put it in a nalgene bottle. Grab an extra jacket and head back up to the passenger deck.
The crossing will take about 4 hours. The ship give a great shutter and we pull away into the harbor headed for the South Island. The wind is brutal the swell so great that its flying over the bow and spraying the brave folks standing on the 2nd level. The boat is rock'n and a roll'n. I mean side to side, up and down, and we haven't even clear the harbor. Wild. Actually leaving Wellington is the worst part of the crossing. Something to do with the shape of the harbor, it funnels all the waves and wind into its mouth. Once we cleared the harbor it calmed down to 15ft swells. Needless to say I now understand why the don't let passengers near their cars while at sea! I am also thankful as with all the pitching and rolling no one noticed my stumbling about after finishing off the aforementioned cocktail.